(BBC) Four small boats with 49 people on board have been intercepted as they crossed the English Channel, the Home Office has confirmed.
French authorities, meanwhile, stopped 126 migrants in eight boats from crossing, a government spokesman said.
Immigration minister Chris Philp said the French have stopped more than 70% of attempted crossings in 2021.
More than 8,438 people crossed the English Channel in about 635 boats in 2020.
About 311 people have made the crossing to the UK coast so far this year.
